The setting in The Bluest Eye was greatly influenced by the attitude of America in 1941. During this time racism was an integral part of society. Racism was so bad even the African-Americans looked down on themselves. Pecola became so used to this racism she thoguht she would be a better, and prettier person if she had blue eyes. "Long hours she sat looking in the mirror, trying to discover the secret of the ugliness, the ugliness that made her ignored or despised at school, by teachers and classmates alike." Racism even created animosity between colored people. The darked the skin, the uglier and dirtier they were treated.
The non-growth of the marigolds in their community of Lorian, Ohio, would symbolize and foreshadow the tragedy that was to come in the next year of their lives. Claudia and Frieda decided to plant the seeds instead of seeling them for money. If they bloomed it would symbolize everything was going to be alright with Pecola and her baby, but when they did not blossom that fall they knew tragedy would fall upon the family.
The poverty during this time struck their family harshly. They were forced to live next door to a prostitution home because they could not afford a better atmosphere for their children. Throught out the book, Pecola lives with a fear of being “ruined” like the local prostitutes due to the stories that her parents and classmates tell her. The sexual violence in the novel suggests that racism is not the only thing that distorts black girlhoods, but also poverty. There is an assumption that women’s bodies are available for abuse becuase they are young, black, and poverty stricken. During the 1940's and decades before, black women were the lowest on the "totem pole."
The Bluest Eye is full of setting that shows how far America has truely come in the battle of abolishing racism. The constant want and need to have blue eyes is not an issue in today's world. America is slowly becoming a nation of equality amoung races and creeds. This book truely shows the difference in attitudes and feelings of Americans when it comes to race, equality, and physical appearances.
The non-growth of the marigolds in their community of Lorian, Ohio, would symbolize and foreshadow the tragedy that was to come in the next year of their lives. Claudia and Frieda decided to plant the seeds instead of seeling them for money. If they bloomed it would symbolize everything was going to be alright with Pecola and her baby, but when they did not blossom that fall they knew tragedy would fall upon the family.
The poverty during this time struck their family harshly. They were forced to live next door to a prostitution home because they could not afford a better atmosphere for their children. Throught out the book, Pecola lives with a fear of being “ruined” like the local prostitutes due to the stories that her parents and classmates tell her. The sexual violence in the novel suggests that racism is not the only thing that distorts black girlhoods, but also poverty. There is an assumption that women’s bodies are available for abuse becuase they are young, black, and poverty stricken. During the 1940's and decades before, black women were the lowest on the "totem pole."
The Bluest Eye is full of setting that shows how far America has truely come in the battle of abolishing racism. The constant want and need to have blue eyes is not an issue in today's world. America is slowly becoming a nation of equality amoung races and creeds. This book truely shows the difference in attitudes and feelings of Americans when it comes to race, equality, and physical appearances.